Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » juillet 15, 2015

BetaNews.Com (24 non lus)

Microsoft Edge gets a huge performance boost in Windows 10 Build 10240

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 10:20pm CEST par Mark Wilson
So, a possible RTM build of Windows 10 has been unleashed on Windows Insiders, just two weeks before launch day, and just two days after the suspension of build availability. As we're so close to the actual release, it would have been foolish to expect any major new features or changes here, but there have been important tweaks made to Microsoft Edge.

The main reason for build 10240's release may well be to test the upgrade process that will be used by millions of people, but it's also a chance for Microsoft to show off the performance of its new operating system. One thing the company is particularly proud of is just how fast Microsoft Edge, the successor to Internet Explorer, is.

The build number might not be what was rumored to be the first RTM build, but Microsoft is keen to talk about numbers. Gab Aul says that browser optimization has been on-going; now "Microsoft Edge is even better and is beating Chrome and Safari on their own JavaScript benchmarks". Despite referring to Safari-beating performance, only figures for Edge vs Chrome are given:
- On WebKit Sunspider, Edge is 112% faster than Chrome
- On Google Octane, Edge is 11% faster than Chrome
- On Apple JetStream, Edge is 37% faster than Chrome
Performance certainly sounds impressive enough but, of course, the stats are not going to reflect everything that contributes to overall performance. Nor, indeed, is performance the only thing that users are interested in -- stability and features are also key, and it remains to be seen how Edge is received by a wider audience.
Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 10240 has a special purpose

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 9:47pm CEST par Wayne Williams

Earlier today The Verge stated that Windows 10 has been finalized, and Build 10240 was the version of the new OS that Microsoft has selected as the final Release To Manufacturing (RTM) copy. While Microsoft has just released that very build -- after briefly suspending updates -- it has neither confirmed nor denied its RTM status. The company has made it clear however, that Insiders can expect still more builds before the full version is released to the world at large on July 29.

However, what’s interesting is that Build 10240 isn’t an ordinary release. It has the bug fixes you’d expect from a new build, and the desktop watermark has been removed, but that’s not what’s most significant about it. RTM or not, Build 10240 serves a vital purpose.

For the first time since the Insider program began, Microsoft is releasing the new build to both the Fast and Slow rings simultaneously. It’s not making it available in ISO format, and the build is also only available to Insiders who are already running a preview version (10074 or newer). In fact, Microsoft has removed all ISOs and keys, preventing anyone from cleanly installing the new OS from scratch. From now on, any new builds, and updates, will only be available through Windows Update.

That’s because Build 10240’s primary raison d'etre -- as confirmed to me by a Microsoft insider -- is to test the upgrade process in advance of the roll out in two weeks’ time. Microsoft could offer Build 10240 as an ISO, but as Windows Insider chief Gabriel Aul himself says, "we really need people to be using the upgrade path".

Rolling out an upgrade to as many Windows Insiders as possible (5 million + potential systems), will give Microsoft a clear idea of how smoothly the roll out process will likely go on July 29 and allow the software giant to make further tweaks to the "release pipelines and processes" it’s been preparing over the past couple of days.

Windows Insiders have helped Microsoft shape the OS, and now by installing Build 10240 they are helping to ensure -- in theory at least -- that Microsoft delivers as smooth a roll out as possible on the big day.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Sharpshutter
Microsoft releases Windows 10 Build 10240 to both Fast and Slow rings -- possibly RTM

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 9:12pm CEST par Manish Singh

Microsoft has a new build for all its beta testers. The company announces today that it is releasing Windows 10 Build 10240 to both the Fast and Slow rings. What could be the RTM version (the final version of a product released to the manufacturers), the new build brings along several minor changes and a performance boost.

Chief among those features is the watermark, or its lack thereof, to be precise. That's right, the watermark as gone, which shows how close we're getting to the full thing. In the new build, Microsoft has also further optimized its Edge browser to make it more efficient. The company claims the new browser is significantly faster than Chrome, and has published different benchmarks to show its speedy superiority.

In a blog post, Windows Chief Gabe Aul notes that developers will be able to upload their Universal Windows Applications to the Windows Dev Center using production quality Windows 10 tools on July 29th. He also shared some updates on Office. Aul notes that come next week, users will need an Office 365 subscription to use it.

To snag the update launch Windows 10 and go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates. Let us know in the comments below your views on the new build.
Microsoft: Not giving up on phones; aims to build profitable portfolio by releasing 'killer' handsets

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 7:48pm CEST par Manish Singh

Has Microsoft given up on Windows Phone? Will there be no new Lumia devices? Microsoft realizes the amount of debate and confusion it wittingly created earlier this month when it announced restructuring of its phone division, in which it showed the door to more than 7,000 employees. At the ongoing WPC event, the company went in-depth to convince people that it is still committed to doing great things with its mobile operating system.

At the event, Microsoft's Chief Operations Officer Kevin Turner made some new announcements. He boldly claimed that Microsoft will continue to make new Lumia smartphones -- and "killer" ones at that. He further noted that the recent restructuring at the company was done to make its phone platform grow profitability and become sustainable.

But the way the company is going about it has created no less amount of confusion. Instead of investing more money and bringing out even more Lumia handsets, Microsoft plans to reduce the number of phones it will launch. "We are not going to have a lot of devices. We're going to build a profitable portfolio, we're focused on a few killer devices that grab share and that enable to help us showcase our uniqueness and solutions", says Kurner.

Apart from making fewer phones, and presumably only releasing high-end handsets, the restructuring will also have its effect on manufacturing and shipping processes. The company hints that it won’t be shipping its phones to places where Windows Phone is not very popular. "We're changing our manufacturing processes, we're modernizing those and making them contemporary, we're changing some of our go-to-markets, and using multi-tiered distribution".

"We are rightsizing the organization, and we are hard at work at what's the next big wave of innovation relative to that size of the device that we need to be working on and geared towards. So make no mistake we're not giving up on phones, we're resetting for profitable growth, and we will continue to innovate in that space, and it remains a very important part of the portfolio".
Wi-Fi Aware could be what the Internet of Things has been waiting for

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 6:35pm CEST par Mark Wilson

The Internet of Things -- or IoT if you will -- is much more than just a buzzword. It's also much more than 'the next big thing'; it could be fundamental to the future of technology and how we interact with it. When we talk about the Internet of Things, we tend to do so in reference to the home and business -- but there is more to it than that.

There's a lot to consider when it comes to working with data gathered by various sensors built into smart devices, and the most recent game-changer has been unveiled by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Wi-Fi Aware certification has just been opened up with a view to enabling the creation of smart devices that can wirelessly exchange data directly, react to location, and discover other devices. This, rather than a connected fridge or oven, is what is exciting about the Internet of Things.

The difference with Wi-Fi Aware is that data can be transferred without the need for a separate wireless network. There's no need to have a router sitting there waiting to intercept one device's signal and pass it to another -- the two devices can communicate directly without the need to set anything up. It's something that is set for inclusion in mobile phones, but there are plenty of other applications.

While Wi-Fi Aware devices are concerned with location, this is not in terms of longitude and latitude. It is probably more accurate to say that Wi-Fi Aware is about proximity rather than location -- it's not where a device is specifically that's important, but where it is in relation to another device. Just how this technology is used will depend very much on the types of apps that are developed: apps will very much be at the heart of how things proceed.

Perhaps the most obvious use of Wi-Fi Aware is likely to be embraced by retailers. Rather than using loyalty cards, a Wi-Fi Aware enabled phone and app could notify you of e-vouchers you can spend as you walk through the door of the coffee shop. As there is no reliance on GPS, location detection can be more precise and power consumption is greatly reduced -- essential for mobile devices.

It also allows for a highly personalized experience at very little cost. If you're heading to the airport, an app on your phone could not only tell you which desk you need to visit, but could keep you informed about how long you have to wait as you stand in line.

In many ways, Wi-Fi Aware is a development of Bluetooth. That said, this is entirely Wi-Fi-based and as such the range is much greater than Bluetooth. The Wi-Fi Alliance says:

Wi-Fi Aware devices go through a unique process of discovery and synchronization, establishing a common 'heartbeat' that enables very power efficient operation. Devices form clusters and exchange small messages about services available nearby, enabling immediate discovery. Once an interesting service has been discovered, an app can easily initiate a Wi-Fi connection for follow-up activity such as sharing photos or playing a multiplayer game.

There will almost certainly be integration with social networks, but Wi-Fi Aware will likely be integrated into smart devices in the home. There are already a lot of big names -- Intel, Qualcomm, Broadcom, to name but three -- and it will be interesting to see the hardware that emerges in the coming months. The Internet of Things just got personal.

The Wi-Fi Alliance's video serves a good introduction to Wi-Fi Aware:
Microsoft WearDrive can triple battery life for wearables

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 6:32pm CEST par Phoebe Jennelyn Magdirila

Microsoft Research expects to almost triple the battery life of wearables through a technology called WearDrive which uses the aid of a smartphone.

The idea of the technology is to use the battery of the user’s smartphone to allow the wearable to handle high-battery consumption tasks, while also keeping the device on for a longer period of time.

To do this, WearDrive will offload energy intensive tasks via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi onto the user’s smartphone, while the lightweight tasks will remain to be handled by the smartwatch.

The planned technology expects to improve battery life "up to 3.69 times with negligible impact to the phone’s battery life" and "improve the performance of wearable applications by up to 8.85 times", according to the Microsoft Research paper.

The tripled battery life can be compared to a wearable with a bright LCD which lasts two days, to one that can go for five to six days.

As long as the wearable is paired to a smartphone, the system can be switched on and off. Furthermore, WearDrive wouldn’t be useless without a smartphone, but the wearable would essentially run out of juice quicker.

The tech is not being used on the Microsoft Band and, at the moment, the company has not announced plans to do so for the second generation tracker.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Logitech announces Logi BLOK iPad cases

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 6:03pm CEST par Brian Fagioli
The iPad has been a game-changing product. While the tech world was skeptical of Apple's tablet at first, this was because most didn't understand it. You truly needed to hold it and use it to experience an "aha" moment.

With holding, however, comes dropping. From the start, it was clear that a case would be needed to protect the investment. Since the iPad's release, there have been countless cases from many manufactures. Some were wonderful, many were terrible. Logitech, however, has always made great iPad accessories. Today, the company announces the BLOK case family for iPad. This is notable as these are the first products under its new Logi label.

"The square corners of the Logi BLOK family are designed to help protect your iPad from drops up to six feet high and onto surfaces as hard as concrete. The cases' absorbent polymer structure supports and flexes with your iPad upon impact, and the corners of the case are even more absorbent to give your iPad more protection where it needs it most", says Logitech.

The company further says, "the Logi BLOK Protective Shell provides perimeter protection for an uninterrupted iPad experience. The Logi BLOK Protective Case offers the flexibility of a case with an any-angle stand that adapts to you. And, the Logi BLOK Protective Keyboard Case is the all-in-one tool, providing a detachable wireless keyboard that doubles as a screen cover and an any-angle stand".

Last night, I had the opportunity to try the new BLOK family of cases at a special event in New York City. Logitech's claims of surviving a 6 foot drop is not marketing speak. Over and over again, they dropped an iPad Air 2 from 6 feet high. Not only did the screen not shatter, but there was not even a scuff. The protective corners are brilliant.

The Logi BLOK Protective Keyboard Case was an absolute joy to type on. If you are a road warrior that travels with an iPad, this is definitely something to keep and eye on. It was a fabulous laptop-like experience.

To learn more, please use the below links.
What do you think of the Logi BLOK family? Tell me in the comments.
Think the iPod is dead? Apple disagrees, revamps range with new colors, and 'best iPod touch yet'

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 5:29pm CEST par Wayne Williams

There has been talk over the past few days that Apple was planning to release updated iPods, and today the rumors are proved correct. As well as a new lineup of colors for all iPod models, including space gray, silver, gold, pink and blue, Apple has unveiled what it’s calling "the best iPod touch yet".

The new iPod touch features the same A8 chip as in the iPhone 6, delivering 10x faster graphics performance, an 8 megapixel iSight rear camera, and improved FaceTime HD front camera for selfie lovers. Fitness tracking is improved too thanks to the inclusion of the M8 motion coprocessor.

Naturally, the catalyst for the updated iPods is the newly launched Apple Music.

"iPod touch gives customers around the world access to Apple Music, the App Store and iOS, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, starting at just $199," says Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPhone, iPod and iOS Product Marketing. "With big advancements like the A8 chip and the 8 megapixel iSight camera, customers can experience next-level gameplay, take even more beautiful photos and enjoy their favorite music, TV shows and movies".

The new iPod touch is priced at $199 for the 16GB model, $249 for 32GB and $299 for 64GB. There’s also a new 128GB model for $399.

The entire iPod family in its five new colors is available starting today through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.
Montar Universal Car Mount long-term review

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 5:09pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

There is no place where I can safely store my iPhone 6 Plus while driving, without leaving it in a bag. It does not comfortably fit in any of my pockets, and the car does not even have a single cup holder between the seats. It pretty much stays in a bag, and I have to take it out every time the need calls for it. And then hold it. That's not very safe nor very convenient.

In my case, the best option is a smartphone car mount. I could easily place it on the middle of the dash. My iPhone 6 Plus would work great for navigation, and I would not have to hold it to see who is calling or what notifications I have received the rest of the time. A long-term test of Montar Universal Car Mount, over the course of a couple of months, reveals it to be just want I need.

This car mount is designed to fit smartphones of all sizes, with its maker claiming that it can hold devices with a screen size of up to 6 inches. My iPhone 6 Plus is easily kept in place, even with a case on; Montar Universal Car Mount could hold an even wider handset, as there is quite a bit of room left.

Montar Universal Car Mount can be placed just about anywhere you want, as long as there is a large-enough flat surface for the base to attach to. I have it on the middle of my car's dash, but it can be placed just as well on the windscreen, upside down. I prefer the former position, because it keeps my iPhone 6 Plus closer to me, making things easier to read on the screen.

The car mount comes with a built-in suction cup, which has proved to be extremely effective. It basically sticks like glue -- the maker claims to have patented it, touting it as the strongest suction cup in the world. I am not sure how accurate that claim is, but I have no doubt that the car mount will stay in place no matter what. It is also washable, which comes in handy when re-fitting it.

In the box, there is a 3mm film that is provided so that the suction cup can work more effectively with all sorts of surfaces. The suction cup can be engaged with a small lever, which does not get in the way of mounting the smartphone.

The coolest thing about Montar Universal Car Mount is the ball head with extendable arms. The ball head allows you to have the arms in any direction you would want your phone to be in; fastening the nut around it will lock it in that position. It has not moved at all in the months I have used it, which is quite impressive for something made out of plastic.

The two arms that keep your smartphone can be extended, albeit with a fair bit of effort on your end. You can try to mount your smartphone with a single hand, but it is much, much easier with two. The arms have rubber on the inside, so your smartphone will not get scratched or move at all. I am raving about it, I know, but I could see this car mount working fine even on a bike's tank. But this is another test for another time.

If you want to get one, you will have to shell out just $29.99 for a Montar Universal Car Mount from the company's site. Shipping is free, internationally, which is a huge plus. You can also get it from Amazon. Thanks to its excellent build quality, it comes highly recommended.

Photo Credit: Mihaita Bamburic
Jitterbit makes cloud applications more accessible with APIs

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 4:20pm CEST par Ian Barker

As businesses move towards cloud and hybrid environments, providing real-time access to digital assets from anywhere and on any device becomes more of a challenge.

Integration solutions company Jitterbit is launching a new Harmony Live! cloud platform that lets companies quickly design, orchestrate and manage real-time APIs. This allows the connection of thousands of B2B, consumer and mobile apps, as well as smart devices and the Internet of Things.

Harmony Live! goes a stage beyond management and offers API 'orchestration'. This means that APIs are connected to the business, tied to real-time digital processes, and shared securely for plug-and-play connectivity with any system.

Harmony Live! lets non-technical users connect any on-premise system, cloud app or device and expose it instantly as an orchestrated API in minutes. Using the Jitterbit Studio, users can connect, orchestrate and manage their APIs without having to write a single line of code. In addition they can use the Workflow Designer to visually map out business processes.

Live! 'Anywhere' APIs can run in any environment while connected to the Harmony API Gateway, which exposes APIs securely, reliably and with fast response times.

These Live! Anywhere APIs can also be linked to popular apps through pre-built connectors, available for systems including SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, Salesforce, Autodesk, and NetSuite. These systems can then be securely exposed as a service connected to a specific business process that tie together employees, partners and customers. If a data source, app or device doesn't have an API, Live! can provide it with an Anywhere API, and even combine multiple sources into a composite API to offer services that tie together users, systems and processes.

Live! security controls can limit and block access to APIs and comply with industry standards. These combine with View Live! analytics to reveal how APIs are being used and allow admins to manage them proactively.

You can find out more and sign up for a 30-day trial of Harmony on the Jitterbit website.

Image Credit: rzoze19 / Shutterstock
Samsung announces Galaxy A8 Android smartphone

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 4:19pm CEST par David Curry

Samsung has announced the Galaxy A8, a continuation on the A series of smartphones, in China.

The Galaxy A8 features a super-thin design, measuring at 5.9mm, alongside a 5.7-inch 1920 x 1080 display. Like other devices in the A series, Samsung has added a metallic frame to the device.

Internally, the Galaxy A8 runs on a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage (with microSD expansion) and a 3,050 mAh battery. Samsung has added a 16MP rear camera and 5MP front camera.

The home button on the front of the Galaxy A8 also acts as a fingerprint sensor, allowing the user to unlock the device and make payments. Samsung has not announced any partnerships in China, although we expect it will work with some of the contactless payment providers.

Software wise the Galaxy A8 runs Android Lollipop 5.1.1 out of the box, with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI. Since it launched in China, quite a few of the Google Play apps are banned, including the Google Play Store.

Samsung has not made any further announcements regarding the Galaxy A8, so it seems China is the only region receiving the phablet. It is surprising that Samsung would prioritize China, where it has lost all recognition, instead of South Korea, Europe or the US.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
The things we do for Wi-Fi

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 3:36pm CEST par Ian Barker

We use Wi-Fi almost without thinking about it, but a new survey of users in the US and Europe reveals just how big an impact it has on our daily lives and what we're willing to do to stay connected.

Network company Xirrus polled hundreds of people about their Wi-Fi habits and expectations. The results reveal the far-reaching impact Wi-Fi has on users' lives, as well as its importance to the future.

Rapid expansion of the IoT and BYOD means that businesses need to re-evaluate how they design their Wi-Fi networks to meet users' expectations to connect anywhere, on any device, at any time. The survey finds a majority of consumers (76 percent) connect to Wi-Fi outside of their home on a regular basis. It also reveals a growing expectation of being able to get connected everywhere.

Although 79 percent of respondents don't feel that public Wi-Fi is secure, 62 percent are still willing to connect to it. More than half (66 percent) of travelers would change hotels for a better Wi-Fi experience, and 49 percent would change their preferred airline provider.

84 percent of respondents say that bad Wi-Fi has kept them from doing their job. Almost all consumers (90 percent) now own at least one connected device -- such as a laptop, smartphone or tablet -- and a surprisingly high one in three of those polled own a wearable device of some kind, such as a smartwatch or fitness band.

"We are now more than ever a mobile, wireless-reliant society," says Shane Buckley, Xirrus CEO. "The proliferation of Wi-Fi connected devices combined with the expectation of steadfast connectivity has put increased demand on Wi-Fi networks everywhere. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the enterprise. Our study highlights the need for organizations to reinforce their networks to ensure a seamless connected experience for users at all times, no matter the location".

The Xirrus Where the Wires End Survey is available to download from the company's website and there’s a summary in infographic form below.

Photo credit: Shutter_M / Shutterstock
HTC brings new affordable Desire Android smartphones to US

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 2:43pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

To get more consumer attention, a smartphone vendor has to cover all major segments well. It has to have solid low-end handsets, balanced mid-rangers, and, of course, cutting-edge flagships in its lineup. HTC does the last part well in US, with One M9, but, outside of this segment, its presence is not as strong.

HTC wants to change this, announcing four new Desire Android smartphones for the US market, which it hopes will get the attention of consumers on increasingly popular prepaid plans. Desire 520, Desire 526, Desire 626s and Desire 626 borrow design elements from the One M9 flagship, but at much lower price levels.

"At HTC, we don’t think you should have to sacrifice or settle if you are looking for an affordable smartphone. That is why we are bringing the absolute best affordable smartphones to market with the HTC Desire lineup", says HTC America president Jason Mackenzie. "Our Desire smartphones bring the premium experiences, performance and style of our flagship smartphone at an incredible price". Question is, will consumers find them attractive enough to buy them?

Based on specs, the new Desire handsets are meant to fit in the mid-range to low-end smartphone market, where consumers do not have as high of expectations as those shopping in the actual mid-range and high-end segments. Of course, all come with 4G LTE support.

The best of the bunch is Desire 626, which packs a 5-inch HD display (resolution of 720 by 1,280), 1.1 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 processor, 1.5 GB of RAM, 8 MP main camera, 5 MP front shooter, 16 GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, and a 2,000 mAh battery as the main highlights. Desire 626 comes slightly below it, with 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal storage and a 2 MP front-facing camera.

At the other end of the spectrum lies Desire 520. It has a smaller 4.5-inch display (resolution of 480 by 854), same processor as the aforementioned two devices, 1 GB of RAM; 8 MP main camera, 2 MP camera on the front, 8 GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, and also a 2,000 mAh battery.

To differentiate its offerings from the rest of the crowd, apart from the exterior design, HTC is betting on its software customizations to do the talking. There is Sense 7 on board, theming support, Zoe Highlights, BlinkFeed, and Android 5.1 Lollipop running the show. Business as usual, then.

If you are interested in getting one of the four new Desire handsets, HTC says that they will be available shortly (once mobile operators announce, starting this week, which models they will carry). Partner carriers include AT&T, Boost Mobile, Cricket, MetroPCS, Sprint, T-Mobile, Tracfone, Verizon and Virgin Mobile.
Prevent people printing, copying, and downloading your shared Google Drive files

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 2:40pm CEST par Mark Wilson

The likes of Google Drive make it easy to collaborate on projects, harnessing the power of the cloud to provide people with access to files. While it's handy to be able to work on files with other people, there are times when you want to ensure that the documents you share are not misused.

With this in mind, Google has now added new permission options to shared files. With the added ability to prevent the copying, downloading, and printing of files, it's now safer to share confidential documents. As Google says, it's "perfect for when the file you're sharing contains sensitive information that you don't want shared broadly or leaked".

Protecting documents, spreadsheets, and presentations by making them read-only is a very simple task. Previously, it was only possible to choose between allowing the people you share files with to edit, comment on, or just view the file. Now, click the Advanced link in the bottom corner of the Share dialog and a new option is available: 'Disable options to download, print and copy for commenters and viewers'.

At the moment the feature can only be accessed through the web version of Google Drive. Google has not yet indicated whether it will be coming to mobile apps, but it seems reasonable to assume that it will migrate at some point as Google says it can also be accessed through the API.

Photo credit: Lichtmeister / Shutterstock
SurfFind is a fast grep-like text search tool for Windows

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 2:34pm CEST par Mike Williams

The Windows Search engine is much better than it used to be, but still has plenty of room for improvement, which is why there’s an enormous number of alternative tools around.

SurfFind is a tiny open source package -- a mere 216KB download -- that searches your specified text files for keywords, quickly displaying the results. It’s a familiar idea, but the program does have some interesting extra touches which help it stand out from the crowd.

SurfFind’s interface is a little cluttered, but its basic approach is simple: specify a starting folder, the files to search and any keywords to look for. Unlike some of the competition, the program accepts multiple start folders (C:\Here|D:\There) and file specs (Report*.txt *.html), as well as multiple Exclude filters.

There’s also support for regular expressions, as well as normal text searches, and unusually you can define a specific encoding to be used when reading the files.

The search results are displayed in a table with the details of every keyword match: its file name, line and column number, and the sentence where it appears. If you need more context, click that entry and the file appears in a preview pane with each keyword highlighted.

The viewer is great as a quick way to check file contents, but that’s not all. If you spot another keyword of interest, select it, right-click, and you can search all files -- or just the "found files" from last time -- for more matches, opening the results in a new tab.

It’s also possible to launch new searches in separate tabs, making it easy to compare the results. Your last few searches are saved in a "Recent" list, too, ensuring you don’t have to type lengthy include/ exclude filters each time.

SurfFind has a few notable omissions, in particular the lack of filtering by file size or date. But if you can live with that, extras like the regular expression support, tabbed interface and file viewer are welcome, and overall this is a likable tool.
Edifier Exclaim Connect e10BT speakers [Review]

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 1:39pm CEST par Ian Barker

On the whole speakers tend to be quite dull-looking pieces of kit. There's no way you can level that criticism at the Exclaim Connect though, a pair of speakers which have rather unique style.

They feel nicely weighty, the upright parts are metal and the bottom ball-like segments have a smooth rubbery finish. They look like a piece of modern sculpture or something out of a 1950s science fiction comic.

Leaving aside the looks, these PC speakers also offer Bluetooth connectivity, making them a versatile choice for home or small office use. There are three-inch subwoofers in the base of each unit and two 1.5-inch mid-range speakers in the upright parts. The power output is 2 x 8W and 2 x 10W.

They come supplied with a mains power adaptor, a cable to link the two speakers together and a 3.5mm audio cable. The right-hand speaker is the master unit and has controls for power and volume on its side. There's a red LED behind the grille to indicate that the power is on which turns blue to show that a Bluetooth connection is active.

The speakers incorporate some clever technologies. Digital Signal Processing (DSP) claims to deliver active crossover frequencies and good tonal balance, even at high volumes. While Dynamic Range Compensation (DRC) technology is aimed at keeping distortion to a minimum.

A good thing about the design is that if you're using them on a desk they sit neatly either side of a monitor and the height of the units means that the mid-range speakers are in line with your ears. However, you do need to be a little further back than normal desktop distance to get the best effect. That said, the listening experience is good with a rich tone and decent bass, though there are no bass and treble controls so you’ll need to fine tune the listening experience at source. You do get a bit of distortion if you crank up the volume too high but it's fine at normal everyday levels.

It would be nice to have a built-in microphone to allow for making hands-free calls via Bluetooth, and some bass and treble controls would have been good too, but otherwise there’s not much to fault here. You can pay a lot more for speakers without getting significantly better sound quality and you’re getting that added touch of sci-fi style with the Edifier Connect.

The Exclaim Connect e10BT currently costs £78 on Amazon in the UK ($131.77 in the US) more detail is available on the Edifier website.
In-depth analysis of Apple Pay in UK

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 1:08pm CEST par Sam Pudwell

There’s no possible way it could have happened (unless you have been living under a rock) but if you have missed the news that Apple Pay was just launched in the UK, don’t panic, we can help.

This article provides the ultimate Apple Pay analysis from industry professionals, giving you a comprehensive overview of Apple’s attempts to rule the digital payments industry.

Missing the Point About Apple Pay? It’s All About In-App, Not In-Store -- James Allgrove, Stripe:

It’s bizarre that the most transformative feature about Apple Pay -- in-app payments -- is being overlooked. The simplicity of buying things with a fingerprint means mobile conversion rates in apps are generally twice as high. This will power huge growth for mobile-first start-ups such as Bloom & Wild and Dice.fm which are revolutionizing the way we buy everything from flowers to gig tickets.

Mobile is bringing the internet to everyone, everywhere, but the legacy financial infrastructure just hasn’t kept up with the internet economy. This has left us with a situation where only 2 percent of global consumer spending happens online, despite the web being 25 years old. Fixing this and enabling more transactions on mobile is a challenge rooted in code and design, not finance.

If it would be of interest, we could also potentially connect you with some businesses in the UK -- including Lush, Bloom&Wild and Dice.FM -- that will be using Apple Pay to ramp up in-app sales.

Apple Pay and Security -- Liam Lannon, Payments Transformation Consultant, Sopra Steria:

It’s fairly safe to say that the Apple Pay Secure Element is as secure as the chip in the chip and PIN cards in your pocket, purse or wallet. Consider that the underlying architecture and standards which define what a Secure Element is, what it does and how it protects sensitive data, also cover the security hardware which we see every day in our chip and PIN cards.

In fact, in many cases, exactly the same hardware as is used in our EMV-compliant chip and PIN cards will be integrated into handsets like the iPhone 6 as the Secure Element.

Not only is the hardware basically the same, the microcontroller which is at the heart of chip and PIN cards and Secure Elements will have been subject to rigorous security testing to ensure that it is fit for purpose i.e. able to withstand external attacks and to employ tamper-resistant techniques to ensure that information is wiped should a hardware attack be detected.

A Massive Boost for Mobile Payments -- Ian Hermon Mobile Payments Specialist at Thales e-Security:

The launch of Apple Pay has caused a real shift in the payments landscape -- its UK debut will be exciting news for consumers, offering access to a slick and quick payment option with a brand they love, and carry around with them 24/7. What these consumers won’t see, however, is the significant rearrangement behind the scenes as card schemes and issuing banks grapple to establish new relationships, security approaches and commercial models.

The launch will cause further momentum in an already extensive contactless NFC terminal infrastructure in the UK -- a further endorsement of the established payment rails and EMV infrastructure. This will likely lead to an uptick in adoption of mobile payment technology, and consequently, Apple will find itself in a constant battle to balance user convenience with ensuring security is factored in from the start.

This simply has to be a number one priority if consumers are going to put their trust in mobile payments. With that in mind, it is encouraging to see tokenisation at the heart of the security agenda, which will help issuers with payment channel separation and also protect the merchant in the event of a data breach.

Alarm Bells for HSBC -- Pinar Ozcan, Assistant Professor of Strategic Management, at Warwick Business School:

Apple Pay’s launch is certainly good news for the UK, taking the country to the era of digital payments using the NFC technology.

What has always been a struggle is for Apple Pay and the competitors to build a large enough ecosystem of merchants and bank partners in order to enable immediate adoption.

While it is not clear why HSBC has decided not to support Apple Pay’s UK launch, it certainly rings alarm bells as consumers often have a now or never approach to new technologies, easily deciding not to adopt for a long time if it is cumbersome to do so at the beginning.

A Game-Changer, or Just a Lot of Noise? -- Jens Bader, Secure Trading Chief Commercial Officer:

The first thing to remember when it comes to Apple Pay is that contactless payment is by no means new, or unique to Apple. The use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for payment is well established. Contactless cards have already been successfully trialled, adopted by card issuers, and embraced by UK consumers.

Apple is simply trying to brand the NFC technology. No doubt, Apple is imagining customers will walk into a shop and ask the question 'Do you accept Apple Pay here?' which, in my opinion, is an unlikely future. With so many competitors adopting contactless (from card companies, to other tech schemes such as Android Pay), 'contactless accepted here' is the sign I expect to see on shop-fronts.

While the combination of contactless with mobile technology will promise increased functionality, such as the ability to see your balance on your phone screen as you pay, or receive an instant e-receipt, whether these features will be enough to completely alter the payments industry is a different story. I think it is definitely premature to say that Apple Pay will be the death of cash and cards. While the omnipotence of smartphones for the younger generation may make contactless mobile payment desirable for some in that demographic, the vast majority of the population will stick to what they know.

Working in the payment industry you sometimes forget that there are still people uncomfortable with mobile technology, or even paying on their computers, but the reality is that this is the case -- so Apple Pay is a far stretch for this demographic.

Cash is by far and away the most inclusive payment method (used internationally and across all sectors of society) and therefore will remain safely unchallenged as the most successful payment method.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
How CRM software benefits business

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 12:04pm CEST par Ian Barker

Customer relationship management is on target to be a $36 billion market by 2017, overtaking enterprise resource planning as the most significant enterprise tool.

Business software selection specialist Capterra has surveyed over 500 users of CRM in the US to determine the ways they find, buy and use their software.

Key findings are that more than half of users adopted CRM within their company’s first five years in business, and two-thirds of companies had at least 100 customers when they first purchased a CRM system.

A third of CRM users surveyed use Salesforce, while other software industry giants Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP combine with Salesforce to dominate 75 percent of the CRM market. On average, businesses spend $150 per user per month on their CRM, with 61 percent spending over $50.

Despite recent growth of social CRM capabilities, people still want more. The most desired CRM features were social media monitoring capabilities (25 percent) and the ability to pull in prospect information from social media (24 percent).

"This report shows that, despite four CRM industry main-stays continuing to dominate the market, businesses continue to invest heavily in CRM technology early in their life cycle," says Katie Hollar, Director of Marketing at Capterra. "This trend indicates that there's tremendous opportunity for newer, small-business CRM solutions to cater to the unique needs of startups -- especially as we see the economy rebound and more startups investing in software. And as those startups mature into larger companies, there's opportunity -- both for CRM users and for sellers of CRM software -- to continue to expand into related software categories and product offerings, such as marketing automation, help desk software, social media marketing, and other areas of the sales and marketing stack. Already, the report showed that 44 percent of CRM users had integrated their system with a marketing automation solution, and we expect that number to continue to grow in the coming years".

The research shows that businesses are using their CRM software to better measure their company's performance, boost their sales and marketing efforts, and maintain loyalty among customers. They're also using CRM data to branch into new types of business software, such as marketing automation and social media monitoring.

For the future as more businesses continue to adopt CRM, vendors will introduce add-ons and plug-ins to make better use of CRM databases, such as help desk software for customer service teams or marketing automation systems.

More information is available on the Capterra website.

Photo Credit: Mikko Lemola / Shutterstock
Indian smartphone vendor Lava Mobiles confirms it will be launching an Android One smartphone

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 11:56am CEST par Manish Singh

Google has partnered with Indian smartphone vendor Lava Mobiles to work on a new Android One handset. The companies will be launching the phone in a few days, a spokesperson for Lava Mobiles confirms to BetaNews. The mobile maker hasn’t finalized the launch date yet, but notes that it will be sending out the press invites in a couple of days.

The companies have been working on version 2.0 of the Android One program, as per an earlier report on The Economic Times. The report noted that the two companies will be launching the phone at a media invite on July 14. A spokesperson of Lava Mobiles tells us that they had to postpone the event.

As per The Economic Times’ report, the new Android One handset will usher in a number of changes. According to it, Google and Lava have worked together to not only design the phone but also take full authority over manufacturing it, getting the Chinese channels out of the equation.

For the first batch of Android One handsets, Google had to rely on Chinese original devices makers (ODMs) and hence lose some control over the hardware. This time around, Lava and Google have worked together to make the phone.

As for the specification, the new Android One handset is said to have a 5-inch FHD display. Other features, as per the report, include a high-end MediaTek processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. The phone is slated to be priced at Rs 12,000 ($200). Lava Mobiles didn’t verify the specs to us, however. "We don't comment on speculation and market rumors", the spokesperson told BetaNews on a phone conversation.

Earlier this month Google partnered with Pakistani smartphone manufacturer QMobile to debut its low-affair handset called QMobile A1 in the country.

Announced at the I/O developer conference last year, Android One is Google’s attempt to improve the user experience in the low-echelon smartphone segment. The company partnered with several smartphone manufacturers including Micromax, and Spice to provide them with design guidelines to manufacture $100 smartphones.

These smartphones run stock Android version and receive updates directly from the Mountain View-based company. This is a crucial factor, as low-end handsets hardly ever receive updates, and typically all Android handsets get updates from their respective OEMs -- delaying the process.

Micromax, Karbonn Mobiles, and Spice launched the first wave of Android One smartphones in India in September last year. Since then, Google has debuted the project in Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and several other South Asian countries.
Google Cloud Platform gains Windows Server support

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 11:49am CEST par Mark Wilson

For a long time, Google Cloud Platform has been a Linux-only affair. Now that has changed. Recognizing that many of its customers work in mixed platform environments, Google has added Windows Server support into the mix.

Specifically, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012 R2 are now supported, after seven months of beta support. During the beta period, Google made a number of Windows-specific tweaks to the Compute Engine virtualization stack.

The company says that Windows Server running on Compute Engine can reach up to 7.5Gbps of throughput thanks to multi queue and generic receive offload support. Microsoft's flexible licensing terms means that existing licenses can be used to run applications in the cloud. Google's Cloud Launcher can be used to deploy servers using ASP.NET or Active Directory and turn to VPN to expand existing systems.

Introducing Windows Server support, Google says:

Making sure Google Cloud Platform is the best place to run your workloads is our top priority, so we’re happy that today Windows Server on Google Compute Engine graduates to General Availability, joining the growing list OSes we support.

Looking to the future, Google also says that it is working with Microsoft to bring support for Windows Server 2016 and Nano Server to Google Compute Engine.
TP-Link Archer D9 AC1900 modem router review

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 10:30am CEST par Ian Barker
Most home or small business users never even think about upgrading the router that was supplied by their internet service provider. But by simply sticking with the default box you may well be missing out on the extra features and performance of a more sophisticated router.

The Archer D9 from TP-Link offers a smart design and decent performance but at a price that undercuts much of the competition. So, is this a good choice or a budget manufacturer trying to punch above its weight?

Design

The first thing to note is that it’s quite large and it’s designed to stand upright. The stand is fixed so there’s no option to lay it down flat or mount it on a wall. The router itself stands around six-inches tall and you can almost double that when you’ve attached the three antennas to the top.

A row of LEDs along the top of the shiny, white front panel allow you to monitor its status, though there’s only one Ethernet light so you can’t check on individual ports. On the back you have three LAN ports and a LAN/WAN port, a power switch and buttons for WPS and for turning Wi-Fi on and off -- a handy touch that many routers don’t offer.

There are also two USB ports, a 3.0 on the back and a 2.0 on the side, for attaching storage or other devices.

Setting Up

Plug it in and you can access a Quick Setup mode via the browser interface that will auto detect your ISP settings so all you have to provide is a username and password. There’s also a mini CD with an Easy Setup Assistant which is good for less experienced users who aren’t confident with the web interface.

That interface is not hard to navigate but it has a vast array of options and feels like it’s very much for techies. If you know what you’re doing you’ll have no problem forwarding ports or configuring VPNs and the like.

This is a dual-band router so it provides 2.4GHz and 5GHz connections and there’s support for a guest network on both. You get limited parental control via a MAC defined whitelist. It has a bandwidth control feature too that lets you limit the amount a particular port or IP address can use. The USB ports provide access to storage, media streaming and printer support -- though you’ll need to download and install TP-Link’s own printer controller software.

In Use

Signal strength is more than adequate to cope with most domestic or small office situations. The 5GHz band offers good performance with fast data transfers (up to 1,300Mbps) and smooth streaming.

The lower speed 2.4GHz band comes into its own at longer ranges though allowing you to connect where the faster one struggles. Beamforming technology concentrates the signal towards connected devices to give more reliable operation.

Conclusion

At just over £120 currently on Amazon, the Archer D9 has a lot to offer. It performs well, has plenty of features and it feels solidly built.

There are some minor niggles, like the lack of individual status LEDs for the Ethernet ports, but if you’re looking for a good value router with lots of configuration options it’s well worth considering.

Pros
- Solidly built
- Easy setup
- Very configurable
Cons
- Only one Ethernet LED
- Web interface is very much for techies
- No wall mount option
Company Release
Price ITProPortal
Review Company Site

TP-LINK £120.00 7/10

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
MEmu is an Android 4.2.2 emulator for Windows

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 8:57am CEST par Mike Williams

MEmu is a free package which allows you to run a virtual Android 4.2.2 tablet on your Windows desktop.

Setup is far more awkward than it should be, not least because the developers forgot to finish its localization from the original Chinese, but if you persevere you’ll find what looks like a good product.

The installer is compact, but that’s because it downloads the core application from a very slow server. Or maybe it’s just getting a lot of hits right now, but either way, don’t be surprised if you’re waiting for a long time.

The setup program didn’t improve our mood as it’s largely in Chinese. The buttons are in English, though, and we found our way through eventually.

If you have a Start Menu then you’ll find a single MEmu entry with a Chinese prompt. That turns out to be the uninstaller: the program is actually launched from its desktop shortcut.

Fortunately, with all this out of the way, life gets much easier. A window opens representing an Android 4.2.2 tablet, a few basic apps -- including ES File Explorer -- and Google Play Store to help you find and add more.

Our first tests showed this worked well, too, MEmu running everything we tried without difficulty.

A right-hand toolbar simulates shaking your virtual tablet, rotating it, adjusting volume, taking a screenshot, or running an apk directly.

There’s also a "GPS Simulation" tab which is set to China by default, so if you’re having location-related issues then you’ll want to update that.

MEmu performed well for us, but if you have any problems then you can change the RAM its allocated, the number of CPUs or its screen resolution (although you can also run Android full-screen whenever you like).

The system has shared folders for music, videos, pictures and download, making it easy to share content between Android and the host. Apparently there’s also support for simulating multi-touch gestures from the keyboard, although this didn’t work for us on our initial attempts, and there’s no documentation to help.

MEmu’s English language installer, setup procedure and support needs a lot of work, then, but at its core this looks like an interesting product. Go take a look.
System76 removes Adobe Flash from its Ubuntu Linux computers

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 4:33am CEST par Brian Fagioli

Adobe is not having a good time right now. Its Flash product has more security holes than Swiss cheese, making it a recurring target for hackers and bad guys. The tech world owes Steve Jobs an apology for poo-pooing his choice to disallow Flash from iOS. Things have gotten so bad, that Mozilla is blocking it by default as a major security risk.

Today, however, System76 takes it to another level. The Ubuntu Linux-loving computer seller has decided to stop pre-installing Flash on its machines. The decision to pre-install Adobe's software on its computers -- as a way to make Linux more friendly -- looked wise back in 2007, but has now proven to be a disservice to its customers. Is System76 right to do this?

"In 2007 System76 was granted a license from Adobe to pre-install Flash on all our laptops and desktops. Back then, Flash was the only way to unlock all the wonders of the Internet. Watching cat videos on YouTube, annoying friends with 'can you milk my cow?' requests from FarmVille, and, of course, enjoying the pure ecstasy that only a webpage brimming with animated Flash ads could bring. Real bread and butter stuff", says System76.

The company also says, "from 2007 till today, we've pre-installed Flash in our golden images (under the above mentioned license grant from Adobe). But starting tomorrow, we wont be. In fact, as I’m writing this, xz is humming along compressing our newly remastered golden images, sans Flash".

If you are worried that System76 is being paternalistic and making decisions for users, just relax -- Flash was never an actual part of the vanilla Ubuntu operating system, but something the manufacturer added. System76 is right to make this move.

More importantly, however, you can still add it with the simple terminal command of "sudo apt-get install flashplugin-installer". Before you make that move, you should consider the consequences -- weakening the security of your machine.

The problem with installing Flash on Linux -- besides the recurring security risks -- is that Adobe has stopped developing it. It is forever stuck on the outdated 11.2.

The only way to have modern Flash on Linux is to use Google Chrome -- not Chromium -- as it contains the closed-source pepper flash offered by Google. While using closed-source software is sacrilege to many Linux users, remember, Flash itself is closed-source. If you need Flash for whatever reason, your beliefs about using partially closed-source Chrome is moot.

Do you use Flash on your Linux machine? Tell me why in the comments.

Photo Credit: Sakhal/Shutterstock
Windows 10 is free because... Windows Phone

Publié: juillet 15, 2015, 1:13am CEST par Mark Wilson

Windows 10 is free; that much we know. There was initially some confusion about the length of time for which this would be the case, but one of the biggest questions surrounding the giveaway has been 'why?'. Is Microsoft aping Apple? Does the company feel that the operating system was not good enough to warrant a price tag?

The actual reason is rather interesting, and was revealed in an interview between Satya Nadella and ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley. This is not (really) a bid to compete with Apple, nor is it (particularly) meant to encourage as many people as possible to move away from Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows 8.1 (although this will almost certainly be a happy side-effect). Rather it is a move to boost the profile of Windows Phone.

A large part of the move towards Windows 10 has been a drive towards a uniform, cross-platform experience. Using Windows 10 on a phone, computer, or games console should feel immediately familiar, and it turns out that phones are key to the pricing decision surrounding Windows 10. Mentioning the Windows Phone 'app gap' is very much treading old ground, but it’s something that Microsoft, like users and pundits, has noticed.

Creating an ecosystem in which universal apps can exist is central to the push of not only Windows 10 for desktops and laptops, but also Windows 10 for phones. Speaking to Foley, Nadella said:

The free upgrade for Windows 10 is meant to improve our phone position.

This is a slightly odd thing to say about an operating system that is, for the most part, destined for laptops and desktop computers.

In Windows 10, Microsoft is pushing the Store more than ever -- something that clearly translates to phones as well as computers. It seems that the thinking is that by presenting the Store prominently, the hope appears to be that users will become used to the idea of downloading apps on one platform and, thanks to the presence of universal apps, titles that exist on the desktop will also be available for phones.

In Windows 10, the store is right there and done in a tasteful way. I want that to translate into success for our developers. That's what's going to get them to write to the phone. If anything, the free upgrade for Windows 10 is meant to improve our phone position. That is the reason why I made that decision. If somebody wants to know whether I'm committed to Windows Phone, they should think about what I just did with the free upgrade to Windows. [...]If you come to Windows, you are going to be on the phone, too. Even if you want to come to Windows because of HoloLens, you want to come to it because of Xbox, you want to come to the desktop, all those get you to the phone.

Will this give Windows Phone enough momentum to gain popularity? That's obviously something that remains to be seen, but Microsoft has said quite plainly that it has no plans to get out of the smartphone business.

Nadella is ambitious:

I want to be able to be present on every mobile endpoint. That's a very explicit core goal. It's not (just) the notion of having our application endpoints, Skype, Outlook, Wunderlist, Sunrise, on every one of the two billion devices. We want to have Microsoft experiences, because to me that's a platform play. It's not like, oh, they're just application endpoints. Guess what is behind those applications? It's One Cloud. It's Office 365, either for the consumer or for the enterprise. There's MSA (Microsoft Account) in there. So to me it's very important to think of our operating system more broadly than some old definition of an operating system. So we want to be in every device, not only have our application endpoints on every device.

Microsoft is looking -- with the help of, amongst other things, Continuum -- to merge the mobile and the desktop. Windows 10 is at the heart of that, and Nadella is pinning a good deal of hope on the idea that it will help to reinvigorate Windows on phones. Now Microsoft is playing the long game, and we'll just have to wait to see if it pays off.